Angle-finder.



R. E. HUMBERT.

ANGLE FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1909.

956,356. Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

YYITNE$SES ATTORNWS ANDREW B. GRAEAM C0 FHOTO-UYNOGRAFNERS, WASHINGTON.D 2

RICHARD E. HUMBERT, OF MILFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

ANGLE-FINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1909.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910. Serial No. 481,820. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD E. HUM- BERT, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and residing at Milford, in the county of Pike and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and Improved Angle-Finder, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a tool for builders or draftsmen andparticularly to an adjustable angle finder with various attachments,adapted for use in determining the cuts for roof timbers, bridgetrusses, miters and other angled cuts, at the same time being adaptedfor use as a centering tool, try square, etc. as will appear more fullyfrom the drawings and description.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the tool assembled;Figs. 2 and 2 are bottom and top plan views respectively of the pivotinghub; Fig. 2 is a section of the latter on line 2 -2", Fig. 2*; Fig. 3 isa broken plan View of the center guide arm; Fig. 1 is a side elevationof the same; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively sections on the lines 5-5and 66, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a plan of the cap plate; Fig. 8 is a plan ofthe pivoting ring carried at the end of one of the angle arms; Figs. 9and 10 are sections on lines 2"2 and 10-10 respectively, Fig. 2 with theangle arms adjusted, but partially broken away, and with the cap platedetached in Fig. 9. Figs. 11 and 12 are side and end elevationsrespectively of the stop; Fig. 13 is an end View of one of the pivotedarms drawn to a larger scale. Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are plans of the twoguides and braces for the centering attachment respectively; Figs. 17and 18 are respectively plan and end views of the device closed with thesliding guide arm 29 detached; and Fig. 19 is a broken plan showinganother attachment.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters denotelike parts, the tool in the preferred form shown comprises a pair ofarms 10 and. 10 pivoted at the head and having inner straight edgesradially alined with the center of said head. The slotted center guidearm 12 is rigid. with said pivoting head. Links 13 and 13 of equallength arepivoted at one end to a button 30 on the slide 14, which worksin the slot of the arm 12,.and at the other end to buttons 15* 15arranged at different heights above the straight edges of the arms 1010*, so that by moving the slide the angle subtended between the arms isvaried at will. A clamp 16 on the slide holds it in the position towhich it is adjusted. If it is desired to find the angle of a givencorner, the clamp 16 is loosened and the slide used to bring the outeredges of the arms 10 and 10 flush with the faces of the corner,whereupon the clamp is tightened and the tool is set for thecorresponding cuts. If the angle of the cut to be made is known, thetool may be set by means of a protractor 13 preferably cut on the capplate 20 of the pivoting head 11 or if desired made in a separate piece13* and mounted on the slide 14 beneath the links 13 13 The pivotinghead 11 comprises a hub 17 with bearing flange 18 above which the rings19* and 19 fast to the arms 10 and 10", are mounted. The cap plate 20which is screwed to the hub at 21 confines the rings to the hub and isin such close engagement therewith that by sufficiently tightening oneor more of the screws the arms will be held rigid.

The pivoting point of the arms is at the center 22 of the hub and theinner edge of each arm is alined therewith as above mentioned. Tofacilitate marking and the exact positioning of the tool this center 22of the hub is cut away and a radial slot 45 cut to the flange 18 (Fig. 2the sides of the center hole being beveled down to thelower face so thatthe point at which the out is to begin, designated by a mark on thetimber to be cut, may be readily seen. The sides of the hub body may becut away at 23 to form peep holes which facilitate the location of themark. hen the center guide arm 12 is made detachable as is the preferredconstruction, the hub end thereof is offset as shown and beveled tocorrespond to the undercut recess 24: in the bottom of the hub. It isalso perforated by a hole 25 for a securing screw which registers withthe threaded hole 26 in the hub and by another hole 27 which registerswith the center hole 22 in the hub. Thus the slot in the guide arm 12and the inner edge of each of the angle arms 10 and 10 are all true withthe pivoting center of the hub. The marker is moved through the slot inthe arm 12 and along the inner edge of either angle arm. The braces 28which are employed to stiffen the slotted arm are set in the backthereof and are of such thin metal as not to materially interrupt thetravel of the marker.

In connection with the tool as so constructed which is complete in andof itself, I propose to provide a movable slotted arm 29 at right anglesto the center guide arm 12, adapted to maintain its angular relation tothe latter at all times. This I accomplish by pivoting it at one end tothe slide 14, preferably by means of a split claw engaging the button30, while a pin 31 arranged on the arm 10 radially in line with pin 15and distant therefrom the length of the link 13 between its pivotingpoints works in the slot of the arm. As the slide moves up or down, thepin 31 working in said slot lifts the outer end of the arm 29 atprecisely the same rate since the legs 15 31 and 15 30 of the triangle15 3O31 are of equal length and "constantly subtend identical angleswith relation to the arm 29, and the latter is thus kept at right anglesto the center guide 12 in all positions. A marker may be guided throughthe slot in arm 29 for cuts at right angles to the center guide 12. Ifthe arm is desired on the other side of the too], it may be disengagedfrom the pin 31 through the enlargement of the slot at the outer end ofthe arm, and swung over into engagement with the similar pin 31 on arm10". hen closing the tool, this arm may be disengaged from the pin 31and brought into engagement with the pin 31 on the stop H5 which iscarried by the slotted lugs 20 and 17 on the cap plate and hubrespectively.

To use the tool as a centering device I propose to remove the centerguide 12 with the slide 14, and substitute a marker or pointer 32carried in guide 33 with thumb screw 34. To this end the links 13 and 13which extend from the side arms to the slide are made readilydetachable, for instance by splitting the metal near the holes in theends so that they may be easily slipped on or off the button 30 asrequired, and secured to the button 35 on the guide 33. A bracecomprising arms 36 and 36" provided with similar holes 37 may also besupplied to carry a supplemental guide 39 through which the marker 32may be passed. This supplemental guide 39 is held directly above themain guide 33 by the braces 36 and 36 which are both snapped over thebutton 38 at one end, while their free ends are snapped over the buttons44L on the angle arms 13 and 13. Obviously the guides remain verticallyalined although the distance that they are spaced apart varies with theangle subtended between the angle arms 10 10 It will be noted that theends of the arms 10 and 10 are cut away at 4L0 on the inner edge to formshoulders adapted to engage the sides of a plank, so that the pointer 32will indicate the center line thereof. Furthermore the outer edge isangled or curved down so as to form a point, enabling the device to beused as a rough compass if desired.

If a try square is not handy, the present tool may be transformed intoone by disengaging the center guide and links. After adjusting the armsto an angle of 90 with relation to each other by means of theprotractor, they are held rigid by screwing down the cap plate 20 asabove described. They may of course be adjusted to any other angleequally as well.

The length of rafters may be readily ascertained when the length of theking post and tie beams are known, by means of a straight edge 42 (Fig.19) sliding on a button in either of the slotted guide arms, (forinstance the horizontal arm 29) and provided with similar graduations.

In order that the tool may lie flat upon the surface of the plank,drawing board or the like, the lower faces of the angle arms and centerguide are all made to lie flush with each other. I also propose tograduate the angle arms, center and cross guides in any desired fashion.

When folded together the tool forms a compact instrument resembling afoot rule in appearance, the flanges on the angle arms forming thestraight edges lying under the slotted center guide. The lugs carryingthe buttons 15*, 15 being of different heights lie one above the other,while the lugs carrying the pins 31, 31 are pivoted on the arms 10 and10 and may be swung back out of the way when the center guide is engagedwith the pin 31 on the head. hen in use these lugs are held in positionby slight rounded projections 41 on the angle arms.

Obviously the tool may be varied in many details without departing frommy invention and I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tool of the character described, a pivoting head perforated atthe center point to form a peep hole, an angle arm swinging on saidpivoting head and having a straight edge in line with said center, andlying outside thereof so as to leave said peep hole unobstructedtogether with a guide arm rigid with said pivoting head and providedwith a slot in line with said center point, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

2. In a tool of the character described, a pivoting head perforated atthe center point for the purpose specified, an angle arm swinging onsaid head, a guide arm rigid with said head and provided with a slot inline with said center point, a slide on said guide arm and a linkconnecting said slide to said angle arm, in combination with a secondguide arm at right angles to the first mentioned arm carried at one endby said slide and means for securing a sliding engagement between saidangle arm and said second guide arm whereby the latter is moved up anddown said first mentioned guide arm upon actuation of said slide butconstantly maintains its right angular relation thereto, substantiallyas described.

3. In a tool of the character described, a pivoting head perforated atthe center point for the purpose specified, two angle arms swinging onsaid head, a guide arm provided with a slot in line with said centerpoint, a slide on said arm and links connecting the same to said anglearms, in combination with a second guide arm at right angles to thefirst mentioned arm pivoted at one end to said slide and means forestablishing a sliding engagement between said arm and either of saidangle arms, whereby said guide arm is moved up and down said firstmentioned guide arm upon the actuation of said slide but constantlymaintains its right angular relation thereto, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a tool of the character described, a pivoting head, angle armsfreely swinging thereon and provided with buttons equidistant from saidpivoting head, suitable cooperating attachments, in combination withlinks of equal length provided with spring loops at each end whereby oneend of each may be snapped into pivoted engagement with the buttons onthe respective arms and their other ends snapped into pivoted engagementwith said attachments, substantially as described.

5. In a tool of the character described, a pivoting head perforated atits center point and radially slotted therefrom, an angle arm pivoted onsaid head and a slotted guide arm rigid with said head, the slot in saidguide arm being in line with the radial slot in the head, all of saidmembers having their lower surfaces substantially flush, as and for thepurpose described.

6. In a tool of the character described, a pivoting head comprising ahub with peripheral flange, a center guide arm rigid with said hub, anangle arm swinging on said head by means of a ring mounted above saidflange, a retaining cap above said ring and forming a protractortogether with means to secure said cap to said head, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a tool of the character described, a pivoting head comprising ahub with peripheral flange, a center guide arm detachably securedthereto a pair of angle arms swinging on said hub by means of ringsmounted thereon above said flange, together with a retaining cap carriedby said hub above said rings and means in connection therewith forfrictionally engaging said rings between said flange and cap to holdthem rigid, substantially as described.

8. In a tool of the character described, a hub and arms pivoted thereonhaving straight edges lying outside said hub, said hub being cut away atthe pivoting center to afford an unobstructed peep hole together withmeans lying above said hub for confining said arms freely pivotedthereon, substantially as described.

9. In a tool of the character described, a stationary arm and a slidethereon, a swinging arm pivoted thereto at one end and provided with apin, a sliding arm engaging said pin and pivoted at one end to saidslide on the stationary arm, together with a link pivoted at one end tothe swinging arm at a point midway between its pin and its joint withthe stationary arm, and radially alined therewith, and at the other endto the slide at the pivoting point of the sliding arm, the distancebetween the two pivoting points of the link being substantially equal tothe distance between its pivoting point on the swinging arm and the pinon the latter, whereby the angular relation between said sliding andstationary arms is maintained when said slide is actuated, substantiallyas described.

10. In a tool of the character described, a pivoting head comprising ahub with a peripheral flange, rotary members pivoted on said hub abovesaid flange, together with a confining disk and means to secure saiddisk above said hub whereby said rotary members are held in position,said disk and hub being perforated at the pivoting center to L. H.Gno'rn.

